BY NOXOLO DLAMINI
PIGG’S PEAK— The Hhohho Regional Festival is emerging as more than just a celebration of arts and culture, with the National Arts and Culture Council (NACA) using the event as an opportunity to identify and nurture emerging talent across Eswatini.
The festival, currently being held at Gobolondlo Hall in Piggs Peak, forms part of a countrywide talent-scanning exercise ahead of the National Arts and Culture Awards. The initiative has already travelled through different regions, beginning at Polar Rest and Bar in Lubombo, before moving to Nhlangano during Shiselweni Day and now making its third stop in Hhohho.
According to NACA Communications Officer Mcolisi Dlamini, the organisation is deliberately visiting different regions to give artists an opportunity to showcase their abilities before the final award winners are selected.
Dlamini said the regional festivals are important because they allow NACA to discover talent that may otherwise remain unnoticed.
“We are still scouting talent in all the regions before we get to the actual winners of the awards,” Dlamini said.
The Piggs Peak gathering has brought together musicians, performers and other creatives, creating a lively platform for artists to connect with audiences while demonstrating their skills.
Following the Hhohho stop, the festival is expected to continue to Manzini, extending the talent search to another part of the country.
The regional approach also gives communities an opportunity to participate directly in the development of Eswatini’s creative industry, while allowing NACA to identify artists from different backgrounds and artistic disciplines.
As the festival continues its journey, the message from NACA remains clear: the regional events are not only about entertainment, but also about finding, supporting and recognising the country’s creative talent.
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